Favre upgraded to questionable

Brett Favre has been upgraded from out to questionable for tonight's game against the Chicago Bears at TCF Bank Stadium.

Favre will test his injured right shoulder about 2 1/2 hours before the game to see if he can play. Favre was officially ruled out on Saturday because he was still experiencing some numbness in his right hand.

Rookie Joe Webb was expected to make his first career start, but Favre is going to see if there's a chance he can play.

"Brett Favre attempted to throw the football two days ago and was unable to, due to pain in the SC joint and residual numbness from a brachial plexus injury,” Vikings head athletic trainer Eric Sugarman told the team's website Vikings.com. “He declared himself out at that time. He woke up this morning feeling much improved. His symptoms and function have improved dramatically over the past 24 hours. In fairness to him and his team, he would like to be given the opportunity to play tonight if physically able.”

Favre had his consecutive games streak end at 297 games against the New York Giants last Monday. He suffered a sprained sternoclavicular joint against the Buffalo Bills the previous week and has been experiencing tingling and numbness in his hand.

Favre did not take part in practice this week, and it's highly unusual for a player to be upgraded on game day after being listed as "out" on the final injury report. Here is a statement from NFL spokesman Greg Aiello on the situation:

"If a player's medical status changes during the course of the week, the club must update his playing status accordingly prior to the game," Aiello wrote in an email. "That is what the Vikings did when Brett's status changed today. The club discussed it with us first."

Coach Leslie Frazier has stated several times this week that he didn't intend to put Favre on injured reserve because he is hopeful his shoulder will make progress.

Vikings.com also reports that left guard Steve Hutchinson (broken thumb) has been placed on injured reserve and that quarterback R.J. Archer was promoted from the practice squad.

Matt Vensel is in his first year at the Star Tribune after covering the Ravens for the Baltimore Sun for six years. He is a Pittsburgh native and a Penn State grad. Follow him at @mattvensel.

Mark Craig has covered the NFL for 23 years, and the Vikings since 2003 for the Star Tribune. He is one of 44 Pro Football Hall of Fame selectors. Follow him at @markcraignfl.

Master Tesfatsion is the Star Tribune’s digital Vikings writer. He is a 2013 graduate of Arizona State and worked for mlb.com before arriving in Minneapolis. Follow him at @masterstrib.